Fairy Tale Science

July 15, 2021
Readers are invited to approach fairy tales with scientific curiosity. This collection includes summaries of 25 fairy tales, 22 of which are European, although the full-color, cartoon-style illustrations feature ethnically diverse children. For each, information regarding the story's origin and variations is provided. Following each summary, the author discusses related scientific concepts and provides detailed steps for performing one or more experiments or activities, complete with scientific terms, definitions, diagrams, and reflective questions. Following "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," the author includes a discussion of vital signs. Also included are steps for readers to determine their heart rates. Following "The Three Little Pigs," the author provides a discussion of forces, including how the wind can cause structural failure. Readers are encouraged to test this using a ping-pong ball and blow-dryer. The author's humorous and satirical retelling of each tale is key, offering a fresh perspective on these classics and encouraging readers to begin thinking like scientists. The rich heritages of Africa, Indigenous North America, Oceania, and Latin America are entirely absent, while a story set in China by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen is included; alongside the story of Ali Baba, the two other non-Western tales are about possibly real Asian historical figures--Mulan and Vikramaditya--choices out of keeping with the European stories. The cursory explanations of past societies' timekeeping abilities and fear of witches feel ahistorical. A lively and captivating book weakened by its narrow cultural focus. (glossary) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

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September 1, 2021
Grades 3-6 Instead of focusing on the happily-ever-afters, Albee approaches fairy tales, folktales, fables, and legends through a scientific lens. She opens by recognizing some of the first written recorders (noting the tales' original oral traditions) before looking at 25 traditional tales, from ""Rapunzel"" and ""The Frog Prince"" to ""Hua Mulan"" and ""Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves."" Accented with colorful cartoon spot art, each chapter includes a short synopsis of the tale, a note about the tale's origin, and an investigation of a scientific concept with accompanying hands-on activities and experiments using household items. For instance, ""Stone Soup"" contributes to a study of mixtures and chemical changes, ""The Emperor's New Clothes"" is a catalyst for optical illusions, and ""Hansel and Gretel"" leads to navigation and compass skills. Components of physics, biology, astronomy, geology, psychology, and engineering are also integrated among the stories. Some chapters even include several pages on related science facts, such as the "Long Sleepers" section in ""Sleeping Beauty,"" which highlights animal hibernation, torpor, and estivation. A fun way to turn STEM into STEAM.

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October 4, 2021
“Have you ever wondered how a pair of glass slippers could withstand an evening of ballroom dancing? Or if it’s possible to spin straw into gold?” With textbook heft, this stuffed compendium parses scientific questions raised by fairy tales’ preposterous plots, pairing 25 story summaries—almost entirely European—with a series of kid-friendly experiments designed to explore STEM concepts. Albee’s snarky asides (of “The Princess and the Pea”: “This tale is short and, if you really think about it, mildly disturbing”) will draw young readers, while compelling scientific explorations explain concepts such as sound waves as they appear in “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” before presenting companion experiments. Some, like running time trials à la “The Tortoise and the Hare” to test for the presence of slow- and fast-twitch muscles, are better suited for a classroom environment, and others require equipment, including heart-rate monitors, that may not be available to all readers. Robinson’s cartoony digital illustrations feature a diverse array of human characters. Includes a robust glossary. Ages 8–12.